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Dan Ngerem, the
former President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is taking
steps to ensure that Abdul Karim Amu, the technical director of the
federation during his tenure is immortalised.

Amu, a member of Nigeria’s 1960 Olympics contingent died in February this year at the age of 77 after a brief illness.

Ngerem, who says
the manner Amu’s passing has been treated is rather unfortunate, has
written to world athletics body, the International Association of
Athletics Federations (IAAF) requesting it to explore ways of honouring
him. In the letter addressed to Lamine Diack, president of IAAF, Ngerem
said:

“I want to bring to
your notice something that has been bothering me for some time, which I
feel that, if it is not handled in a satisfactory manner will not augur
well for the sport and especially for the younger generation of
athletes and administrators; in terms of giving their very best in
pursuit of excellence for self, country and the continent.

“And the
excruciating problem is the undignified treatment that has been meted
out to one of the greatest Nigerian and African that has graced the
sport of Athletics in the person of A.K. Amu, Officer of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria (OFR) of blessed memory. A.K. Amu died several
months ago and nobody has found it necessary to honour this great
Nigerian, an African patriot and legend in any significant and
measurable manner.”

A man of integrity

The former
president of AFN said that honouring Amu, who was himself a former
president of Nigeria’s athletics governing body, would help in
capturing African youth for athletics.

“Why has there not
been any programme instituted in memory of such great and passionate
African pioneers like A. K. Amu that lived their lives for athletics
even until death?

“Such programmes
especially the ones aimed at the youth will help to begin to reduce the
debilitating influence and hold of football, Internet and computer
games, etc on the youth in the continent.”

Ngerem said he
worked closely with Amu during their time on the AFN board and was
surprised by the man’s refusal to compromise for greed and personal
gain:

“He had an unrivalled personal integrity, total commitment to
Nigeria, passion, interest, patriotism and self-sacrifice for the
benefit of Nigeria, Africa and the sport of athletics.”